Can-end-feed mechanism.



1. A. GRAY. CAN END FEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. 1914.

1 62, 1 57. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L -WITNES5ES 44 AM BY 0;.

INVENTOR 1. A. GRAY.

CAN END FEED .mtcmmsm. APPLICATION HLED APRJB. 1914.

1,162,157; v Patented N v.30, 1915.

2'SHEETSSHEET 2- I ll "1 L'Ijilll/IIIIIIIII/ll IN V EN TOR.

' By W ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. GRAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAN-END-FEED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Application filed April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,264.

heads successively from a suitable holder for having applied to the flange thereof a liner packing ring, although its use is not so restricted inasmuch as the improved feed mechanism may be employed for the suc cessive delivery of can ends or heads to can making machines generally; the object of the invention being to raise a stack of can ends or heads clear of the lowermost end or head of the stack. and hold the same in such position while the support for the said end or head is removed and the same permitted to be discharged from the holder for the stack of can ends or heads, the said end or head as discharged being preferably thrown from a'horizontal position into a vertical position in order to be delivered into position for either being applied to a can body or for having applied to the circumferential flange thereof a packing ring liner. However, the position of discharge for the cut out end or head of the stack of ends or heads is immaterial, inasmuch as the final position assumed by the lsaid discharging end or head is dependent on the type of machinery to which the same is to be delivered.

To comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a part broken side view in elevation of the improved feed mechanism illustrating'the parts in operated position and the actuating mechanism for imparting reciprocating motion to the feed slide. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line m00 Fig. 1 of the drawings, and-viewed inthe direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line yy- Fig. 4 of the drawings, illustrating the feed slide in its full outward or normal position for the non-discharge of a can end or head. Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the parts positioned as disclosed by Fig. 3 of the drawings. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to indicate any suitable form of a supporting frame capable of sustaining the working parts, and 2 a bed plate secured to said frame. From the bed plate 2 extends the vertically disposed holder 3, for the retention of a stack of horizontally disposed can ends or heads 4, delivered into the holder in any suitable manner. The said holder, in the present case, is formed of four vertically disposed spaced standards, but the shape and construction thereof is an immaterial feature. Through the bed plate 2 is formed a circular opening 5 of a diameter slightly greater than that of the can ends or heads 4, in order that the said ends or heads-when released from within the holder may pass freely therethrough into .a discharge chute or runway 6 actuated beneath the said bed plate 2 and in line with the outlet opening 5 thereof.-

VVithin a guide-way 7 formed in the bed plate 2 works a reciprocating feed slide 8, carrying at its inner end a downwardly'inclined deflector extension 9, which on the full inward stroke of the said slide projects a slight distance within the outlet opening 5 of the bed plate 2 to partly close the same- Fig. 1 of the drawings. At its outer end the feed slide 8 is provided with a depending stud 10, to which is pivotallyunited the pitman 11, the said pitman at its lower end being connected to a wrist pin 12 outwardly projecting from the cam 13'se'cured to'the drive shaft 14. By this form of connection beween the drive shaft and the feed slide 8, the rotary motion of the drive shaft 1s transmitted for imparting reciprocating motion to the said feed slide.

To the upper face of the bed plate 2 is pivoted a pair of swinging cutout arms 15 and a pair. of fulcrumed swinging arms 16, the latter pair of arms terminating at their inner end in a beveled blade 16' and the inner end of each of the arms 15 terminating in a similar beveled blade 15. The lower pair of laterally swinging arms 15 are held inwardly pressed at their inner ends by 5 means of the tension spring 17, while the It will be understood by reference to Figs. 2, 4 and5 of the drawings that the construction of the inner end portion, of each arm of the swinging pairs is such as to move within the can end or head holder 3 when the same are thrown inwardly, the-function of said oppositely operating pairs of swinging arms being for the uppermost or superimposed pair 16 to swing inwardly within the hblder3 to raise the entire stack of ends or heads therein with the exception of the bottom end or head of the stack, duringthe outward movement of the lower of arms 15 to release the lowermost end on'head of the stack cut out by the upper pair of arms. Thus it will be observed that as one pair of the said arms swing inwardly, the companion pair swing outwardly, the expressions inwardly and outwardly being em- I ployed to designate the swinging movements of the cut-out arms relative to the holder 3 for the stack of ends or heads.

The swinging cut-out arms 15 and16 are actuated during the reciprocating movement of the feed slide 8, which slide is provided in the present case on each of its side edges with the outwardly spaced cam surfaces18 and 18, with which engage the rolls 19 and the curved cam surfaces 19 carried respectively by the fulcrumed arms 16 and 15. On the inward movement of the feed slide'the rolls 19 of the swinging arms 16 ride on the inclined or cam surfaces 18 thereof, which throws outwardly orspreads apart the outer ends of the said fulcrumed arms and forces together their inner ends, and by so doing, inserting the blade sections 16'thereof between the two lowermost ends or heads 4 of the stack of ends or heads within the holder 3. As the beveled blade portions 16' move between said ends or heads, the entire stack of ends or heads of the series within the holder is raised a given distance above the lower cut out end or head, and sustained in this position until the said fulcrumed arms are thrown to withdraw the support given by the inserted blade portions thereof. Durmg the continued inward movement or stroke of the feed slide 8, the cam surfaces 19ride on the inclined portions 18 thereof, which causes the said arms to swing outwardly or spread apart at their inner ends, gradually removing the blade portions 15 from beneath the lowermost can end or head supported thereby within the holder 3, thus freeing the said end or head and allowing the same to move through the opening 5 in the bed plate 2 and fall into the discharge chute or runway 6, one portion of the escaping end or head bearing onto the deflector extension 9 of the feed slide 8 in order to swing the said end or head from a horizontal into a vertical positionFig. 1 of the drawings. the movements of the swinging arms is the In the return stroke of the feed slide reverse of that just described, that is, the arms 15 are first drawn together at their inner end by the tension of the spring 17, to place the blade portions thereof within the holder 3, while afterward the swinging arms 16 are thrown by the action of the spring 17 to removev the blade portions thereof from within the holder for the ends or heads and by so doing gradually lowering the same. The retractlon of the feed slide 8 thus allows for movement of the swinging arms to first partly close the bottom of the holder 3 and then release the raised stack of can ends or heads. Thus the lower'pair of swinging arms serves to provide a movable bottom for the can end or head holder, while the upper pair of swinging arms as the means for raising the stack of ends'or heads for cutting out the lowermost end or head of the series within the holder and holding the same in such position until the cut out end or head is released and discharged from within the said holder.

It is not the intent to limit or restrict the invention to the details of construction of the working parts as herein shown and described, for the same may be varied or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention which resides essentiallyin slide devices for sustaining a stack of ends or heads Within a holder, devices coacting therewith for engaging and holding the entire stack with the exception of the one to-be released from within the holder, and means for actuating said parts or devices successively, first to engage and hold the stack withm the holder with the exception of the lowermost one thereof, thence to operate the sustaining devices for the stack to release the lowermost end of the stack for the discharge thereof, thence to re-position the said devices to'close the holder and lower the stack of ends or heads within the same.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is 1. A can end feed mechanism, the same I engage and hold the stack of ends while operating the opposing pair to release the lowermost end of the stack.

2. A can end feed mechanism, the same comprising a holderadapted to contain a stack of can ends, primary reciprocating means for engaging and holding the stack the holder with the-exception of the lower most end of the stack. sustaining the stack temporarily and lowering the same on the discharge of the lowermost canend, secondary reciprocating means for normally sustaining the stack of ends within the holde' and releasing the lowermost end of thestack engaged and held by the primary means, 'and reciprocating means co-acting with said primary and secondary means for imparting opposite movements thereto.

4. A can end feed mechanism, the same comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of can ends, swinging fulcrumed means for sustaining a stack of can ends within the holder. means co-acting therewith for engaging and holding the stack within the holder with the exception of the lowermost can end of the stack. and mechanism for actuating said means to first engage and hold the stack within the holder, excepting the lowermostcan end, to remove the lowermost end, and to restore the said means to normal position.

5. A can end feed mechanism, the same comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of can ends, a pair of opposing slide devices movable into and out of the sphere of said holder for engaging and holding the stack of ends therein with the exception of the lowermost end of the stack and lowering the said stack-on a removal of the lowermost end, a companion pair of slide devices normally sustaining the stack of ends within the holder and operatable to release the lowermost end of the stack of ends while engaged andhcld by the first mentioned slides, and automatically operated means for actuating the said mentioned slides.

(3. A can end feed mechanism, the same comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of can ends, a movable bottom support therefor comprising oppositely moving swinging members for controlling the discharge of a can end therefrom, devices for engaging and holding the stack of ends within the holder with the exception of the lowermost end of the stack, and automatically operated means for actuating the said devices to engage and hold the stack. moving the bottom support to release the lowermost end while the stack is so held, and restoring said parts to normal position relative to the holder.

7. A can end feed mechanism. the same comprising a suitable supporting frame, a holder adapted to contain a stack of horizontally disposed can ends, a pair ot-opposing spring held swinging arms forming the bottom of the holder and normally sustaining the stack of ends therein, a co-acting pair of opposing spring held swinging arms for engaging and holding the stack of ends within the holder with the exception of the lowermost one of the stack, and automatically operated means for actuating the said mentioned pairs of swinging arms for first engaging and holding the stack within the holder, secondly to release the lowermost end of the stack while so held, and to restore the arms to normal position relative to the holder.

8. A can end feed mechanism, the same comprising a holder adapted to contain a stack of can ends, a plurality of super-imposed fulcrumed associated swinging instrumentalities for sustaining the stact within the holder and engaging and holding the same with the exception of the lowermost end of the stack. and means for throwing into operation said instrumentalities to engage and hold the stack of ends, remove the lowermost can end of the stack, and restoring the same to normal position.

9. A can end feed mecl'ianism, the same comprising an open bottom holder adapted to contain a stack of can ends, slide devices for sustaining the stack of ends therein, associated slide devices operating in diametrically opposite directions thereto for engaging and holding the stack within the holder with the exception of the lowermost end of the stack, recipro *ating means for actuating said slides, mechanism for imparting motion to the reciprocating slide. and a discharge chute for receiving the lowermost end releasedfrom within the holder.

10. In a can end feed mechanism, the combination with a holder adapted to contain a stack of can ends, of a pair of swinging arms normally sustaining the stack within the holder. associated swinging means for engaging and holding the stack of ends within the holder with the exception of the lowermost end of'the stack, reciprocating means cooperating with said swinging means for actuating the same to engage and hold all but the lowermost end of the stack within said holder, to release the lowermost end and to lower the stack of ends on the discharge of the released end. mechanism for imparting motion to the reciprocating means. and a discharge chute into which the released end is received.

11. In a can end feed mechanism. the combination with a holder adapted to contain a &

stack of horizontally disposed can ends, of a discharge chute for the ends, a pair of swinging arms norniall) sustaining the stack of ends within the holder. an associated pair of swinging arms for engaging and holding the stack within the holder with the exception of the lowermost end of the stack, a reciprocating slide carrying a forwardly projected deflector extension, and

0 mechanism for imparting motion to said slide for actuating the mentioned swinging arms.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES x. GRAY.

\Vitnesses I. D. THORNBURGH, I). B. RICHARDS. 

